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About Us

​Academic Foundation — A Profile

Academic Foundation (AF), based in New Delhi, is India’s leading independent publisher of academic/scholarly books in Social Sciences, specialising in Economics—Development Economics and Indian Economy in particular, and allied subjects. Besides its impressive author list, Academic Foundation is credited with publishing numerous works with large international organisations, Government of India, national think-tanks and NGOs of repute. AF has also published some prestigious coffee- table books, trade titles, a few textbooks and general reference books.

History & Growth

Academic Foundation was founded in 1990 by the economist couple, Raj and Uma Kapila, both alumini of Delhi School of Economics. After the initial struggle-period of ‘setting-up’ which got extended nearly upto 1995, with the support of their two sons, the Kapilas were able to finally anchor Academic Foundation as a non-funded self-sustaining publishing house that strived to bring out academic works of quality. Uma and Raj Kapila continued to contribute significantly in the commissioning and editorial aspects, even authoring/editing numerous works together, while their sons Rituraj and Sanu looked more into the operational and marketing side of publishing. As years went by, more manuscripts competed for publication at AF, staff grew, newer systems and policies came into place. What remained unchanged, however, was the passion and the commitment that went into each and every publishing project. It was evidently reflected in book after book that bore the AF imprint. Academic Foundation steadily progressed and made its hallmark on the publishing landscape in India.

Today, Academic Foundation is run and managed by brothers Rituraj Kapila and Sanu Kapila who are both Directors in the organisation. With over 1,000 titles that include numerous globally acclaimed publications, a long list of bestsellers, prestigious coffee table volumes, enviable list of authors, publishing tie-ups with some of the leading organisations of the world, well established trade network throughout India and effective distribution arrangements in place for overseas markets, especially US and UK, frequently organised high-profile book launch events, media reviews and critical acclaim—have all together led Academic Foundation to steadily grow in stature and earn respect in the international publishing community. Keeping pace with time and technology, Academic Foundation is all set to embrace the digital publishing revolution that include e-book offerings and engaging on the social media networks. Consequently, for many publishing projects, AF is now the preferred choice of authors and institutions alike.

Why publish with Academic Foundation ?

Are 10 reasons good enough ?

• Academic Foundation (AF) has more than two decades of experience and a formidable reputation

in publishing.

• AF’s long list of authors include renowned scholars, top economists and policymakers.

• Organisations/institutions with whom AF has had publishing tie-ups, include global organisations

and institutions of repute, and also Government of India.

• Books published by Academic Foundation have high production values—at par with international standards.

• A good majority of pre- and post-publication processes are managed in-house with state-of-the-art facilities.

Over the years, Academic Foundation has had the privilege of working with/for a large number of reputed national and international organisations and institutions from across India as well as across the globe. A partial list is enclosed below.